Whether you are new to mixed-media art or an experienced artist, you’re bound to learn some new techniques in the book, Mixed Media Workshop (A Multifaceted Approach to Creating Unique Works of Art - Step by Step) from Walter Foster Publishing, Inc.
Why? In this book, you will reap the benefits of learning how to use a variety of mixed-media tools and materials from six talented artists: Isaac Anderson, Joe Martino, Bette McIntire, Mark Mendez, Suzette Rosenthal and Patricia Swartout.
And you’ll step inside the minds and hearts of these featured artists, too, as you read their back stories. Here are a few examples of the projects that you will find in the book.
Suzette Rosenthal invites readers to get up close and personal with a still life of Pears that occupies most of the canvas. In Rosenthal’s paintings, she likes to apply paint by using a screen as a stencil. And what is one of her favorite stencils? Woven produce bags.
With detailed steps and photos, Rosenthal will have readers producing a lively and well-textured painting. I’m now eager to paint big when I create my next still life.
You’ll learn how to create Poetry Blocks with Bette McIntire. Essentially, a Poetry Block is a small wooden cube (1 ½” x 1 ½”) that is wrapped with a variety of textured and colored papers.
McIntire suggests using tissue paper, gift wrap, junk mail, vintage books, sheet music, Oriental papers or even scraps from old paintings. For the actual poetry, she encourages artists to begin collecting vintage poetry books from library and garage sales.
Since I enjoy collecting inspirational quotes, I most likely will make these Blocks with my favorite quotes instead.
I also enjoyed reading Experiments in Texture with Patricia Swartout. She developed her process by trialing new ways of incorporating texture into her abstract acrylic paintings. Swartout uses the following materials to add texture to her paintings: wood shavings, ground nutshells, aquarium gravel and ceramic tiles.
The idea of using aquarium gravel as a texture medium intrigued me. Gravel is now on my art supply shopping list
In the beginning of the book, there is an excellent primer on tools & materials, drawing & painting techniques and color theory. I have only covered a few of the mixed-media art projects in the book. There is so much more to discover and experiments to try.
As I mentioned earlier, both new and experienced artists will learn of innovative techniques that they can apply to their individual art projects. And the wealth of ideas in this book may even cause readers to invent some novel tips and tricks of their own.
I know that I was inspired to expand my creative skills. And you will be too.
Many art books on the market today do not tell you "how. This book does. Six artists with a variety of styles and approaches illustrate how they work. It's a good book for beginners or intermediate artists. I enjoyed the journey. I will pick it up again and again.
Posted by: Renton Bankruptcy | January 14, 2013 at 02:22 AM